Southern California -- this just in

Motorists claim L.A. handing out tickets at broken parking meters. Has it happened to you?

March 11, 2010 | 11:54
am

Between 10% and 12% of the parking meters in Los Angeles fail at any given time,
according to a recent study.

Officials aren't supposed to give parking tickets to motorists parked at broken meters, but some residents complain the city is doing just that.

Amir Sedadi, assistant general manager of
the Transportation Department, assured city council members "the policy of the
Department of Transportation is not to issue any citations to broken
meters." But in some instances, Sedadi said, broken meters can
inexplicably snap back into operation, which could be why some
Angelenos have been ticketed.

But The Times' Maeve Reston reports that some are demanding more action. "There's
a lot of short fuses in the world, people are out of work and out of
jobs. . . . I want to have a friendly, efficient" Transportation
Department, said Councilman Tom LaBonge. "If someone says 'I got a ticket,'
henceforth, 'from a failed meter,' we want to know about that, because
we don't do that."

What do you think the city is doing? Have you gotten a ticket at a broken meter? Share your experiences and thoughts below.